Fifteen students from Boston College won Fulbright awards for the 2016-2017 academic year, placing the University among the nation’s top 20 Fulbright-producing research institutions, according to an annual tally by the Chronicle of Higher Education.
BC's 15 Fulbright awards from an applicant pool of 62 raise the total number of Fulbrights won by Boston College students to 194 since 2006.
Fulbright awards support a post-baccalaureate year abroad to study, teach English or conduct research. Recipients are chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program operates in more than 140 countries throughout the world.
“I am pleased to see Boston College students and alumni enjoying continued success with the Fulbright program, an important marker of the University’s engagement with colleges and universities around the world,” said Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley. “Paul Christensen, BC’s Fulbright director, and his team of dedicated faculty advisors work each year with a cohort of talented and ambitious applicants, and it is wonderful to see these fruits of everyone’s labor.”
“The success of Boston College students in receiving Fulbright grants is based first and foremost on the fact that they are intelligent students with interesting ideas, excellent academic training, and impressive records of service,” said Christensen. “All of these attributes equally reflect the missions of the Fulbright program and Boston College. In addition, we have an amazingly talented and dedicated advising staff who work with our students over many months to craft their applications, as well as the support of dozens of faculty members who help with the application and interview processes. Finally, the strong support of the University Fellowships Office and the Provost's Office gives us the resources we need to support the Fulbright program on campus.”
This year, BC graduates are working as English Teaching Assistants in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, India, Malaysia, South Africa, and Spain, and doing research in Belgium, the European Union, and the Philippines.
“Boston College has been among the top producing research schools for Fulbrights for several years now, and I hope that the success of our students will encourage even more BC students to apply,” said Christensen. “As the Fulbright director at Boston College, I feel that this program is particularly important now, when international cooperation and understanding are more needed, yet more under threat, than at any time since the Fulbright program began in 1946.”
—Jack Dunn | University Communications